Weatherproof outlet.



WEATHERP'ROOF OUTL'ET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1915.

Patene Novu I2, ISHS'.

2 SHEETS-SHEE? l.

Il Q a i. 1./

L( FORT.

WEATHERPROOF OUTLET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29| ISIS.

Patented NGV. I2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- gvwa'vL-Ioz Louzls" Fort,

LOUIS FORT, 0F JERSEY CITY,`NEW JERSEY.

wEATHERPRooF OUTLET.

To all whom) it may concern Be it known that I, Louis FORT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful vImprovements in VVeather-A proof Outlets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art may` make and use the same.

The invention relates t0 what might be termed a wire and a weather-proof outlet and is designed for use in interior and exposed locations to cover and protect the ends of conduits and forms a convenient insu.

` lated bushing to lead terminal wires' from a conduit.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and convenient form of device which is applicable to conduits, whether they are arranged horizontally or vertically.

A. further object is to provide a single structure which will meet all requirements by a simple reversal of the position of the base 'and clamping devices, providing for any desired number of outlets.

A further object is to provide a device which, when applied, will close and will seal the endv of the conduit protecting it from the weather and which may be opened for vari@ ous leads as it is designed to-take them out through the cap.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the device as applied to a horizontally disposed conduit.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device applied to a vertically disposed conduit.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the basepart and clamping members.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the combined cap and casing lwhich fits upon the base-part of Fi 3.

Fig. 5 is a etail -sectional view of the insulating block which closes the outlet of the casing.

Fi 6 is a cross sectional view through the evice in a form for interior wiring upon a horizontal conduit.

Fig. 7 is asimilar view illustrating the parts arranged on a vertically disposed conduit with the outlet for the wires at the top.

Fig. 8 is'an end view showing the same position of parts as Fig. 7 withthe cover arranged for leading the wires out at right angles to the conduit.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. l12, 1918.

Application led March 29, 1915. Serial No. 17,639.

Fig. 9 is a view similar' to Fig. 6 employ- 4ing the device and horizontal-conduit with the cover having its -outlet at right angles to the conduit. l

Fig. 10 is a view in elevation of the device asillustrated in Fi 8.

Fig. 11- is a longitudinal section through l i the device on the line 11-11 of Fig. 6.

In modern practice, practically all wires for electrical purposes where used about buildings are carried in conduits usually of pipe form.

Where service "conduits are employed extending from line conductors to buildings, it

'is important that the conduits of the buildings where the wires enter be protected against rain', sleet and other weather conditions. The invention herein described contemplates an adjustable device which may have a universal application, inasmuch asV the same device may. be applied to conduits, whether they extend horizontally through the wires or vertically thereof. The device completely covers the end of the conduit, may be securely fastened with reference thereto and gives a perfect-shield.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the line of the wall through 'which extends the conduit 2. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the conduit 2 extends horizontally through the wall. In Fig. 2, the conduit extends vertically of the wall.

Fittingover the projecting end of the conduit 2, there is a base and clamping inember 3. This base member has walls 4, 5 of substantially equal widths joined at right angles to each other. The wall 4 has a perforation 6 which fits over the end of the conduit 2 and interiorly arranged within the base-part is a clampin block 7 having a semi-cylindrical seat 8 within which the pipe rests. On either side of the semi-cylindrical seat ,are threaded openings 9 by which a clamp -member 10 is secured aboutthe end of the Between the end members 13, 14 and the endsofthe side walls 4 and 5 are arranged seats 16, 17, which are in continuation respectively of the walls 4 and 5. The outer edges are preferably beveled to provide a water shed and the edges of the walls 4 and 5 are beveled as at 18, 19.

It is apparent that the opening 6 may be,

ceive the cap member 20. This cap member has end walls 21, 22, which extend over the extreme ends of the walls of the base which provide the seats 16, 17. They are preferably formed lwith thickened portions 23, which will engage and rest upon the seats 16, 17.

The bottom and back of the casing are open so that the rear edge 24 whichyis bev.

eled inwardly will fit either the bevel 18 or the bevel 19 of the walls 4 and 5- of the .base when theend walls rest upon the seats-16,' 17. The beveled edge' 25 of the opening through the bottom will registerl withl the beveled edge 19 when the edge 24 is in registering position with the edge 18.

vThis cap member is secured to the base by screws projecting through the ends thereof and engaging tlie threaded openings 15.

The top of the cap is rounded as at 26 and has an extended hood portion 27 projecting downward therefrom. Angularly disposed within the hood section 27, there is a seat 28 provided with screw-threaded lugs 29 by which an insulating plate 30 may be secured to cover the hood opening 31.

This insulating block is of peculiar form in thatit is provided with a series of partially forme`d tubularopenings 32 extending from both sides of the plate and providing convex buttons 33. These buttons are a part of the plate but as the edges which join the sides of thetubular opening are comparatively thin owing to the opposed convex formation, they may be driven out without liability of fracturing the -plate and without leaving irregular protrusions in the cylindrical openings. They need be just sufficiently thick to form a closure for the opening through the hood and are arranged in sufficient numbers to serve for anyV desired system of wiring.

As illustrated, the plate contains three outlet openings and this plate, obviously,

may be used either for a two or three wire system.

In practice, theybase is clamped to the end of the conduit and the cap is applied thereto. When it is desired to connect in the line circuits, the wires are passed' through the opening 32 of the insulatingm IVhether the plate, the button 33 being, of course, knocked ou't. The cap member 21 is then placed in position Aand secured to the-base member 3. K

Of course, the wires 12 are dipped below the hood of the casing and secured in any of the usual manners of wiring. Ordinaril they are looped down suiciently toprovi e a dripwhich will carry away water or moisture from the hood.

In Figs. 6 to 10 of the drawings, there is illustrated a device having the same elements as heretofore described though of a form specially adapted for use on interior wiring. For this purpose the extended hood is not so essential as in exterior work and thus, the removable casin section is modified as to form. This oaslng section forms a complete and tight closure when placed uponthe base and is universal in its application so that leads may be taken from a horizontal conduit either in line with the conduit orat right angles thereto and simi' larly, the leads may be taken from a vertical conduit in either a horizontal or vertical direction by varying the position of the base-part and casing member. In these figures, the base-part 34 is ofthe same form as heretofore described. The inclosing casing 35 has two sides 36, 37 substantially equal in size and these are joined by end walls 38, 39 which rest upon the seats 40, 41 respectively. These seats are formed by extending the side walls 42, 43 of the base member slightly beyond the ends 44, 45 100 which connect the side-walls 42, 43. The edges of the walls 42, 43 are beveled as heretofore described and the edges of the walls of the -inclosing casing are similarly beveled between the`ends 38, 39. This provides a close tight fit and permits the base-part and casing part to be reversed in position as may be desired.

The casing member will fit the base-member when it is used on the horizontal casing as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9 so that the wires may be led out horizontally through the casing member or vertically therethrough.

-The casing memberwill equally well fit upon the base-member when the latter is ernployed upon a vertically disposed conduit as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 and obviously, the casing can be applied Vin two different positions upon the base so that the wires from the vertical conduit can be led directly upto the top of the casing or they may be led out through the side or the front thereof.

One wall as 37 of the casing has a substantially rectangular recess 46 within 125 which, is seated and secured by suitable screws 47 a block of insulating material 48 similar in form and construction to that illustrated in Fig. 5. This provides for thoroughly insulating the wires where they 139 'provide Water drips, etc. precise form of the device as illustrated for pass through 'the walls of the casing. It also provides for givinga complete closure to the interior as the plate is imperforate The inner edge ofthe clamp members is rounded and of a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the conduit which, in practice abuts against the shoulders as formed. The upper clamp member has dependent guide arms 52 which straddle the central portion 53 of the-lower clamp member.

The cap is secured to the basesection in any suitable manner as by screws 54.

It is quite obvious that this form of the device for interior wiring shown in Figs. 6 to 10 is identical with that of Figs. 1 to 5 in its elemental combination, but that its interior form is modified to suit the diiier'ences in condition. The device for interior pur.

poses is much neater and compact than for exterior Wiring and obviously, does not require the extended hood form of casing to Of course, the

interior Wiring need not be strictly adhered to in its lines of design and the form may be `modified to suit the exigencies of any par- -ticular case so long as the base is-applicable to vertically or horizontally disposed conduits and the inclosing casing is interchangeable on the base in eitier of said uses and arranged so that it will fit and inclose the base-part and conduit, providing for Wire-leads either at right angles to or in continuation of the conduit.

Obviously, the device herein described is applicable to conduits in any position and the single structure serves as a .perfect closure and cap to protect the conduit and its Wires from the Weather. It is equally ob vious'that the device provides a perfect closure completely incasing the conduit, Whether a onetvvo or three Wire system is employed and that there is a complete closure prior to passing the Wires through the hood part and insulating plate, as vrell as after the wires have been run.

What l claim 'as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A ,weather-proof outlet, comprising a base of rectangular form having two side Walls joined at right angles to each other,

one of said Walls having a centrally arranged perforation to receive a conduit, lWith the base part arranged either upon a vvertically or horizontally disposed conduit, .and with the Whole surface of one wall engaging a supporting Wall or the like, and a casin fitting said base in either of its positions an providing a removable closure therefor with either ofthe walls of the base part disposed in a vertical plane in complete engagement with a supporting Wall.

2. A Weather-proof outlet, comprising a base having two side Walls joined at right angles to each other, one of said walls having a centrally disposed perforation to receive a conduit, end members, joining the side Walls, at a distance from the ends of said side Walls, to provide in conjunction with said side Walls, rectangular seats for a cover, and a cover having walls, the edges of which register with the edges of the Walls pf the base andalso having end Walls covering the ends of the Walls of the base, said end Walls of the cover having seat members fitting the rectangular seats of the base, said cover fitting and inclosing the base when the latter is secured either to a horizonally or vertically disposed conduit, and wire outlets in said cover.

3. A Weather-proof outlet having a basepart provided with two co-extensive side Walls joined at right angles, one of said side Walls having a central perforation to receive a conduit, when either of the side walls is secured to a Wall or like support, lend members joining said Walls at a distance from their ends, and forming, in conjunction therewith rectangular seats foran inclosing cover, a clamp arranged in said base about the perforation and adapted to clamp the base to a conduit, an inclosing casing for the base having Wire outlets and forming 'a complete closure for the base, said caslng having Walls with edges co-extensive with and registering with the edges of the walls of the base and having end'parts tting the rectangular seats of theY 4 se and extending over the ends of the wallsof the base, said casing and base bein reversible end for end vwith reference to eac othervhereby the device rnay be applied te horizontal or vertical conduits and the wire outlets of the cover in either'case may be arranged in line with l or at right angles to the line of the conduit. 

